Tourists visit the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 5, 2019.  Photo:Xinhua

A cultural group from Northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region paid a visit to Qatar on Sunday and Monday, introducing Xinjiang's efforts on counter-terrorism and improving residents' livelihood, xinhuanet.com reported on Tuesday.

The cultural group had meetings with scholars and media in Qatar, discussing Xinjiang's current situation on anti-terrorism and de-radicalization, the ethnic and religious policies in the region and the launching of the vocational education and trainings centers.

From 1990s to 2016, the "three forces" - namely separatism, terrorism and extremism - colluded and plotted a few thousands of terrorist attacks in Xinjiang, causing great harms to local residents' safety and property, said members of group during the meetings.

In recent years, Xinjiang has taken a series of measures to fight against terrorism and extremism, which helps restore social stability and improve local residents' sense of happiness and safety. 

There has been no violent attacks happened in Xinjiang in the past three years, which proved that current policies in the region are effective and correct, according to the report.

The group also introduced the vocational education and training centers in Xinjiang, saying that the purpose of the centers are to save people guilty of minor crimes or law-breaking and to prevent them from falling victims to terrorism and extremism. The move is in accordance with China's laws and the principle of counter-terrorism and de-radicalization of the international community. 

After visiting Qatar, the group will also travel to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to talk to local communities.

China has invited foreign diplomats, religious figures, media and foreign officials to visit Xinjiang and get a full picture of what is happening there. The international community has offered positive response to Xinjiang's efforts, xinhuanet.com reported.

Global Times